Effectiveness of pelvic floor muscles training on females’ sexual function throughout pregnancy and postpartum

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate effectiveness of pelvic floor muscles training on females’ sexual function throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
Methods: A quasi experimental research design was applied at the antenatal clinic of Mansoura University hospital, Egypt. A purposive sample of 72 nulliparous singleton pregnant client free from any connotation affect sexual practice was studied. The subjects were allocated into two groups; control group received conventional antenatal and postnatal care, while the intervention group received the same care besides performing pelvic floor muscle exercise at 20 weeks pregnancy until 10-12 weeks postpartum. Female sexual function, sexual quality of life, and strength of the pelvic floor muscle contraction were evaluated at baseline, at 28-30 weeks gestation, and at 10-12 weeks postpartum, by using the female sexual function index scale, sexual quality of life-female, and the Oxford grading scale.
Results: The total female sexual quality of life index scores in the intervention group were higher than those of the control group at the pregnancy and postpartum follow ups (22.3 ± 6.9 vs. 15.9 ± 6.8 & 26.0 ± 6.7 vs. 13.5 ± 6.3 respectively; p < .001). The sexual quality of life-female scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group at the pregnancy follow up evaluation (54.2 ± 15.9 vs. 36.9 ± 9.7 respectively, p < .001) and at the postpartum follow up evaluation (59.8 ± 13.5 vs. 30.3 ± 7.0 respectively, p < .001). The pelvic floor muscles strength was significantly better in the intervention group than in the control group at the pregnancy follow up evaluation and at the postpartum follow up evaluation.
Conclusions: Pelvic floor muscle training during early gestation weeks was an effective tool for improvement of the female sexual function, sexual quality of life-female, and pelvic floor muscles strength during pregnancy and postpartum. Thus, it should be encouraged for pregnant mothers at early weeks and continued till postpartum.